SUN delegates map the future of healthcare simulation

Simulation techniques will continue to play a key role in the future of Australian health-related training and education, according to speakers and delegates at the recent Simulation User Network (SUN) meeting sponsored by Laerdal in Sydney in June 2010.

Over three stimulating days, delegates discussed how best to use manikins that convulse and have heart attacks, practiced their make-up skills in the name of authentic medical injuries, analysed recreations of scenarios developed from real coroner’s reports and rescued “injured” diggers in the battlefield while under heavy enemy fire.

The SUN brought together experts and practitioners in trauma simulation to find new ways to realise the clinical benefits of using simulation techniques to improve the “work-readiness” of Australia’s healthcare workforce.

Dr Richard Morris from the St George Hospital in Sydney one of Australia’s leading advocates for simulation training in medical education. He presented to delegates about the importance of getting the role of simulation right in the future.

“The challenge for Australian medical and nursing educators is to provide opportunities for health staff to have as much ‘life-like’ experience as possible – but to make sure this is done in a way that does not put genuine patients at risk. Getting practitioners, visionaries, policy makers and researchers together sharing information at meetings like SUN makes an important contribution to this.

According to Laerdal’s Managing Director Andrew Smith, simulation is playing an increasingly important role in better preparing clinical staff for real life challenges.

“Simulation technology is the “way of the future” in medical education. We’re talking about technology that can improve decision times, increase confidence in health and emergency workers and overall save the lives of those people who need urgent, high quality help,” said Mr Smith.

“We were delighted to convene SUN. The feedback from delegates has been fantastic and if we can move the simulation agenda forward by bringing people together in forums like this, then it will all have been worthwhile.”